Monday, July 25, 2011

Sometimes You Get What You Ask For

I am in a little bit of a frantic mode lately. Our school year started several weeks back (we are a year round school) and I have taught English and Computer Apps for so many years that it comes very easily to me. I'm not feeling frenzied about those classes at all.

Since I have lost a large amount of weight (Losing 167 Lbs. but Finding More of Me) over the last three years, my heart goes out to kids who battle obesity. Especially at this middle school age when they are already dealing with so many internal changes, having a body that doesn't fit in with everyone else's can be difficult. I see their self loathing already starting to develop and I know well the hopelessness they feel at the complex challenge of losing weight.

I wrote a successful grant last year that allowed us to refit the weight room in one of our gyms into a cardio fitness center with mirrors, mats, weights, and a pleasant area to take fitness classes.

I've been asking, no pleading, with our administrators to allow me to teach a fitness class to the kids, since I already teach one to the faculty after school. Their problem was finding a way to spring me from a period of my already locked in schedule. Well, it finally happened. I have the fitness class I've dreamed of having for the last couple of years.

The reality of getting to teach it has me excited but also filled with a little fear, too. I asked for the kids who don't take athletics, who are overweight, and who don't like sports. I've got them in abundance; a group of girls this semester and a group of boys next semester.

My own journey into fitness has been largely self taught and ranges from running to the Insanity workouts to step aerobics to my own summer bootcamp (Tractor Tire Bootcamp). I like hard, intense workouts that focus on cardio and on building muscle through strength training. (Women, you are not going to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime if you lift weights. You will be building muscle that helps you to look toned and burn more calories in your everyday life.) My workouts, though, are probably not fun to many other people in this world.

To make this something truly of value to these kids, they need to see that activity can be fun and enjoyable. So, I'm leaving my tractor tire at home for now and I am boning up on Zumba, Pilates, and some yoga. Dancing is amazing fun to me, so I hope they will enjoy the Zumba I will be starting them off with.

I'll be showing them before pictures of myself so they can see how far into the hole I was with morbid obesity. I want to keep them updated on my half marathon training schedule and the race I will run in November. Maybe, just maybe, they will learn from what I put my body through and be able to reverse this downward slide.

I'm going to let them know from the very start it won't be easy, but it is completely possible with some hard work and determination.

I've been going to sleep with samba and cumbia music ringing in my ears, but I'm ready for the first class tomorrow. In fact, I already have my gym bag packed!

20 comments:

  1. Good for you Shelly and I wish you luck with those kids that need you so much in their lives. Maybe you can give me some suggestions. I am 64 and keep going back to 200 lbs. I can lose 15 - 25 lbs fairly easily but find it hard sticking to a regiment that will keep me at the lesser weight. Anything you could suggest would be appreciated.
    odie@qualityofficeequipmentinc.com
    Thanks,
    Odie

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  2. Great job Shelly!!! I will pray for you and those kids, what a wonderful role model you are for these kids. God has placed you in the perfect place and it seems all is falling into place, as is with His will.

    I'd love to Zumba with you someday!!

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  3. Odie: Thank you! Again, I am self taught, but what has worked for me in losing weight is getting my heart rate up. Usually, you subtract your age from 220 and then take 80% of that as a target heart rate, but you probably want to talk with your dr. before you start.

    Since my knees were so bad when I started that I couldn't run, I started walking, then went to an elliptical, then started jogging slowly, etc. and progressed my way up.

    If you have a swimming pool near you, that is also good if your joints hurt.

    Jamie Jo: I sincerely appreciate the prayers, because it's only with God's help that I am where I am. I wish we could do Zumba online- it really is fun!

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  4. Way to to, Shelly! Music is a key component in this endeavor. Its power to alter the mood and to get people motivated cannot be overstated. I play music while doing mundane household chores. It drowns out the inner voice that says "I don't wanna do this." I get caught up in the music, sing along to favorite songs, and before I know it I'm finished. I do the same when it comes time to exercise. Music gives me the burst of energy that I need to attack my workouts and get maximum results. If your kids can become anchored to empowering music, make at least some measurable progress early on, form a support system and encourage each other, they'll become believers in your program. They'll regard your fitness class as play rather than work. They'll actually look forward to it. Good luck!

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  5. Shady; Thank you! You are so right about music- it eases the most tedious of physical activity. I also like what you said about building a support system. I think that is really going to be the key with these kiddoes- that they can look to each other for the emotional support. I truly hope they will be looking forward to 9th period every day and not dreading it!

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  6. Hello again, Shelly! I found your three comments to my older posts, published them and posted replies. Thank you very much!

    Sorry about the typo in my previous comment. Obviously I mean to write "way to go." I always proof read my comments several times before submitting but sometimes my brain skips over typos. Does that ever happen to you? Thanks for turning out to be such a delightful new friend, Shelly!

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  7. Dancing is a fun way to lose pounds. I'm sure the kids will love it!
    I remember doing that when I was 15 and lost 10 lbs. pretty quickly. I used to dance in my room to my favorite songs. I'm so glad you finally got to do this for these young people.

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  8. lindylou: Thank you!

    Shady: It happens to me all the time- and I truly enjoyed your posts. Thank you for taking the time to look them up and post them!

    Belle: I hope they enjoy it- I even am going to try hip-hop abs with them, although I'm not much into hip-hop. Hopefully, they will be, though-

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  9. Shelly, I tried to email my list of blogs to you but it said something went wrong. Here are a few of my favorites but you are free to use any other ones if these aren't appropriate.

    http://belle-goodmorninggod.blogspot.com/2010/10/chicken-little.html

    http://belle-goodmorninggod.blogspot.com/2010/10/first-man-i-ever-loved.html

    http://belle-goodmorninggod.blogspot.com/2010/11/cinnamon.html

    http://belle-goodmorninggod.blogspot.com/2011/01/first-impressions.html

    http://belle-goodmorninggod.blogspot.com/2011/02/buying-car.html

    http://belle-goodmorninggod.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-brother-kim.html

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  10. You'll do great!! What a worthy cause. Good luck. I love a good Latin/hip hop beat. Awesome choice. :)

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  11. Belle: Thank you so much! I so enjoyed reading these posts. Had the full gamut of emotions with them!

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  12. Crystal: Thank you! I so hope they will buy into it. I know I am going to have a lot of fun with it.

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  13. What a great idea, and how kind of you.

    And of course they will buy into it! Music, exercise, a couple of laughs -- at that age, they should see results fairly quickly, too!

    Pearl

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  14. Pearl: I am so excited about it! You're right- their metabolism shoild be running at fairly high speed. If only it still worked for me like that!

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  15. Wow. That's INCREDIBLE!!! I lost 70 lbs. 10 years ago on Weight Watchers and I thought THAT was an accomplishment. You must have felt like a completely different person.

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  16. Stephanie: Congratulations to you! Weight Watchers is a really good program. And yes, I love the way i feel now- nothing compares!

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  17. That is wonderful Shelly. I mean loosing weight. The problem with our country is that we are trying to loose weight for the wrong reasons ie looks. My family started taking interest in fitness after my husband went through a triple bypass surgery. I wish we got into shape long time ago. Now two of my kids are into fitness, but I worry about my oldest because he is still not very careful. If we tell our young people to eat right because it is good for us, it may work rather than worry about looks. I will check and I will let you now if there are any short cuts, but they say the slow but sure method is better. This is Munir over here at Focus.

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  18. That is wonderful Shelly. I mean loosing weight. The problem with our country is that we are trying to loose weight for the wrong reasons ie looks. My family started taking interest in fitness after my husband went through a triple bypass surgery. I wish we got into shape long time ago. Now two of my kids are into fitness, but I worry about my oldest because he is still not very careful. If we tell our young people to eat right because it is good for us, it may work rather than worry about looks. I will check and I will let you now if there are any short cuts, but they say the slow but sure method is better. This is Munir over here at Focus.

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  19. Munir: Good for your family! And, you're right, it's not about the looks, it's about the health of it. So much we do when we are young affects our bodies as we age. Thank-you, Munir!

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